Night Out offers variety

The number attending this year's National Night Out in Marionville on Tuesday exceeded last year's attendance.
Several children (and a few adults) went home smiling after winning a variety of prizes and getting new backpacks for school.
Nestled among the fun and food was a chance to meet public officials and public safety departments.
“The purpose of this annual event is to strengthen our community by encouraging neighborhoods to build relationships with each other and their local law enforcement partners,” said Police Chief Mark Webb.
Webb expressed appreciation to area public safety partners Missouri State Highway Patrol, Lawrence County Sheriff's Department and Aurora Police Department for taking part in the celebration and to the Marionville fire and public works departments for their assistance.
Several people acknowledged Aletha Smialek and her assistants Pam Pierce and Sherry Royal for organizing the event.
“I had lots of help and lots of volunteers. We had wonderful results from the community,” said Smialek about organizing the evening's event.
“I am grateful for the support and generosity of area business leaders in the Aurora and Marionville area; without your continued support and generosity, the job of policing would be even more challenging,” said Webb.
Those attending could partake of a picnic-style meal of hot dogs, chips, cookies and soda or water. There were games and jump houses for kids. A popular local booth involved the talents of Kathy Kienenberger using the faces of local children for her paint canvas.
School-age children could their choice of color from among 125 backpacks filled with school supplies provided by members of Cornerstone Church.
For some people, the evening just involved relaxing in a lawn chair, visting with friends and listening to High Hopes, a blue grass band. Teenagers even seemed to be having fun walking about through the park or sitting and dangling their feet from one of the bridges over the stream.
Prize winners included:
• girl's bike -- Allie Hartman
• boy's bike -- Jacob Keith
• ladder game -- Shawna Kay
• four passes to the pool in Republic (two sets) -- Ashlyn Edmondson and Nate Hodson
• four passes to the Discovery Center -- Delilah Kristek
• four passes to Dickerson Park Zoo -- Faye Swearingen
• four passes to The Track in Branson -- Ruby Bowling
• a shirt, necklace and gift card from Bullpen in Republic -- LaDonna Brunlee
• five-person camping tent (two) -- Angie Carr and Phillip Brunlee (who was begging his mom to camp outside for the night)
• the grand prize of one hour of laser tag for 16 people --Hailey Harter